A/N – Sorry it took so long! Totally my fault! Dedicated to RainyDaySunlight, my amazing beta and brilliant sounding board!

"GET OFF ME! YOU SLIMY..." Arianna was cut off as the tentacle that had wrapped itself around her disappeared back into the ebony water, taking her along.

"Now everyone calm down!" Hagrid shouted, steadying the creaking boat, "The Squid's only being friendly, that's all."

"Ari? Ari? Where are you?" Scorpious was frantically calling out to the submerged girl, his silver eyes panicked.

"What are you going to do?" Rose was plummeting the half giant with a barrage of questions. Hagrid was scratching his head and looking at the water with a perplexed expression.

SPLASH!

"Albus!" Rose screamed. Her cousin had dived into the water, robes and all.

"What's the little tyke doing?" Hagrid hollered.

"Albus!" Rose was now being held back by Scorpious. She was trying to jump in too. Scorpious was restraining her calmly, but his eyes were awash with concern for his friends.

SPLOOSH!

The sound whooshed through the air as two figures were literally hurtled out of the water, like a cannonball. They flew through the air and landed on a patch of dry land that was in front of the boat, some distance away.

"Hurry up!" Scorpious urged the frenzied man, who obeyed and sped up the boat. Rose was sobbing quietly, her head again Scorpious' chest, fearing the worst. The blonde was patting her head awkwardly while at the same time, scanning the shore.

They finally reached the bank and the two practically leapt out of the boat. Albus and Arianna were about a metre away from each other, drenched in water and covered in slime.

"Albus!" Rose rushed to her cousin's side while Scorpious moved to Arianna's. As Rose ran her hands over Albus, his head reared up and he sputtered out water. Near him, Arianna was doing the same, as Scorpious helped support her. Soon, the two soaked students were on their feet, Arianna leaning heavily on Scorpious.

Rose was thanking Merlin and sobbing while Albus was reassuring her, "I'm allright Rosie, see? Calm down, okay? I'm fine…"

Scorpious was repeatedly asking Arianna if she was allright, "For the last time, Scorpious, I am fine! Stop asking the same question!"

Hagrid had now come over to them, "You're ok, aren't you? See, I told you that the Squid was friendly," the man smiled.

Rose and Albus turned disbelieving faces towards the colossal man while Scorpious grabbed Arianna's hand, which had been inching towards her wand.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Hagrid said, in an attempt to ward off Arianna and Scorpious' glaring looks at him.

The four looked up at the looming castle that now stood before them. They had been so pre-occupied that they hadn't even noticed that Albus and Arianna had landed on Hogwarts' doorstep. The children were broken out of their musings when the massive Entrance door banged open and a man stepped out.

He was tall and thin, his hair straight and dark, bangs falling over his eyes. He was dressed in dark blue robes. He walked forward to Hagrid, a smile on his round face.

"Hagrid! These will be the first years, right? Did you have any…….Albus! Rose! Hello! Welcome to Hogwarts!"

"Uncle Neville!" Rose had stepped forward to give him a hug but then blushed and lowered her arms, "I mean, Professor Longbottom."

The man in question chuckled and ruffled her flaming locks, "It's nice to see you too, Rosie." He shook Albus' hand and drew it back in surprise, "You're drenched, Albus! What happened?"

"We kind of fell in the lake," Albus shrugged sheepishly.

Neville raised an eyebrow suspiciously, "Well, that sounds like a story. You two should get up to Madam Promfrey straightaway! But you do need to be sorted……..tell you what, after you two are sorted, it's straight to the Hospital Wing with you. I'll send some food up."

Neville then raked his gaze over Scorpious. His smile vanished and he then adopted a stern expression.

"First years, this way!"

Albus looked behind him to see a dozen or so children hurrying to follow Neville. He grabbed Rose and called to Arianna and Scorpious, "Come on, guys."

The group of children followed Neville to a small hall that was just off the Great Hall.

Rose managed to whisper to Albus and the other two right before Neville spoke.

"We're about to be Sorted."